Bird Trauma

Any sudden physical injury, whether from a fall, a collision, or an animal attack constitutes a critical emergency for a bird. Due to their lightweight skeletal structure and ability to mask pain, the signs of internal trauma are often subtle yet life-threatening. If your bird has suffered any form of accident, regardless of how minor it appears, immediate transportation to a specialized avian veterinarian is the only safe course of action.

Trauma refers to any acute physical injury, including collisions, crushing, or animal attacks.
The most common injuries are bone fractures, internal bleeding, and concussions.
Birds instinctually hide pain, so severity must never be judged by the bird's initial behavior.
First aid involves keeping the bird warm, quiet, and contained, but never trying to splint a limb yourself.

Why Does My Bird Experience Trauma?

Physical injury most often occurs due to accidents within the home environment, as birds are naturally sensitive and easily startled. Common causes include collisions with windows, ceiling fans, or walls during flight; crushing injuries from being accidentally sat or stepped on; predation from other pets, particularly cats and dogs (even a gentle mouth shake can cause fatal internal damage); and falls from high perches, especially if the bird is startled or has an underlying health condition (like a seizure or stroke).

Types of Avian Trauma

Immediate and comprehensive assessment is required to identify the full scope of the injury, which can be categorized as external, skeletal, or internal:

External Trauma

Contusions and Lacerations

Bruising (contusions) or open cuts (lacerations) resulting from impact or sharp objects. Lacerations to the wing web or chest can cause significant blood loss.

Beak and Claw Injuries

Fractures or breaks to the beak (often from biting a hard object) or torn claws and nail beds, which are painful and prone to bleeding and infection.

Skeletal Trauma

Fractures

Breaks in bones, most commonly the wing bones (humerus, ulna, radius) or leg bones (femur, tibiotarsus). Birds have thin, hollow bones that require specialized surgical or stabilization techniques.

Spinal and Pelvic Damage

Injuries to the spine or pelvis (often from severe falls or crushing) that can lead to partial or total paralysis of the legs or tail.

Internal Trauma

Internal Hemorrhage

Bleeding into the coelomic cavity (abdomen/chest), often caused by blunt force trauma to the liver or spleen. This is life-threatening and may have few external signs.

Air Sac Rupture

Damage to the respiratory air sacs, which causes air to leak under the skin (subcutaneous emphysema), leading to visible bubbles or ballooning under the skin, especially around the neck.

Symptoms of Bird Trauma

If an accident has occurred, look for these specific, often urgent, signs. Remember, a bird in pain may appear deceptively quiet.

Feather Displacement

Ruffled, missing, or blood-stained feathers around the site of the injury.

Visible Deformity

A bone is clearly bent, misplaced, or protruding through the skin (open fracture—a severe emergency).

Lethargy and Immobility

The bird is sitting fluffed up on the cage floor, refusing to move, eat, or drink—a sign of shock or severe internal pain.

Limping or Non-Weight Bearing

The bird refuses to put any pressure on a leg, holds a wing at an abnormal angle, or cannot fly or perch normally.

Open-Mouth Breathing

Rapid, shallow breathing, or audible clicking/gasping sounds, suggesting internal chest injury or pain.

Neurological Signs

Head tilting, circling, weakness, uncontrolled tremors, or seizures, indicating a potential concussion or head injury.

Prevention & Bird Care

Bird-Proofing the Home

Secure windows, mirrors, open doors and eliminate access to kitchen areas (hot stoves, grease) and bathrooms (open toilets).

Supervised Flight

Always supervise free-flying birds and ensure all dogs, cats and small children are secured in another room.

Infection Check

Closely monitor the wound site or fracture area for any signs of infection (redness, swelling, foul odor).

Safe Cage Placement

Position the cage away from potential falling objects, drafts, or high-traffic areas where it could be accidentally knocked over.

Restricted Movement

Follow the veterinarian's instructions precisely regarding cage rest and the time frame for removing bandages or internal fixation devices.

Bird Trauma FAQ

Keep the bird calm, place it in a small, secure box lined with a towel, and transport it to the vet immediately. Do not attempt to feed or administer water.

Absolutely. A cat's mouth harbors Pasteurella bacteria, which can cause fatal septicemia in a bird within hours, even if the wound is tiny. Every cat or dog attack is a critical emergency.

Yes. Birds are masters of concealing pain and injury. A bird "acting fine" may have severe internal bleeding or an undetected fracture. Always seek expert assessment.

Simple fractures may be treated with external bandages (figure-eight wraps), but complex or critical fractures often require internal fixation using pins, wires, or specialized plates.

Recovery depends on the location and severity of the break. Fractures involving the major joints are more guarded, but specialized avian orthopedic surgery offers the best chance for full function.

Yes. Similar symptoms may point to chronic diseases, nutritional deficiencies, or severe stress. Consult our other specialized treatment pages to learn more.